Join Steven Bigolin as he leads guided walking tours of Sycamore’s History District – featuring the beautiful homes along Somonauk Street. Meet at the statue of Wally’ Thurow, at Somonauk and Elm Street. Bigolin will lead a tour highlighting the architecture and local history connected to Sycamore. The tour will last about an hour and a half, wear comfortable shoes. Location: Wally Thurow statue (near corner of Somonauk and Elm) Time: 1:00 p.m. Cost: $5 Per Person.

Listen to bluegrass and folk music played on traditional instruments as you stroll among the log cabins and garden paths of the reconstructed pioneer village where Abraham Lincoln lived and worked as a young man.

Come and see what a typical autumn life was like on the 1830's Illinois prairie. There will be costumed interpreters demonstrating daily tasks such as candle dipping, butter churning, soap making, basket making, spinning wool, gardening, natural dyeing, and fishing with nets. As well as a demonstration of meat smoking that will take place in one of the log village's period smokehouses. Wild game cooking will be demonstrated in the log homes and you are also welcome to step down into the cellar at the tavern to see how fruits and vegetables were preserved during the winter.

Candle lanterns illuminate the 1830s village while fireplaces entice visitors to step inside many of the log buildings along Main Street during the annual Candlelight Walk at Lincoln's New Salem pioneer village.

Join Steven Bigolin as he leads a guided walking tours of Sycamore’s Main Street. Bigolin will lead a tour highlighting the architecture and local history connected to the homes along Main Street. Stops on the walk will include, the Townsend House (currently the Paper Doll House) and carriage house (Willow’s Hometown Cafe), the Boyton House, the DeKalb County Court House, Library, Post Office and Rick Turner’s Law office. Meet at the Courthouse lawn. The tour will last about an hour, wear comfortable shoes.Location: Courthouse lawn. Time: 1:00 p.m. Cost: $5 Per Person

Meet at the Wally Thurow statue (corner of Somonauk and Elm). Join Steven Bigolin as the guided walking tours of Sycamore’s History District continue throughout the summer. Bigolin will lead a tour highlighting the architecture and local history connected to the homes along Somonauk Street. The tour will last about an hour and a half, wear comfortable shoes. Time: 1:00 p.m. Cost: $5 Per Person

Ghost stories at the Mansion and a walking tour of Ottawa's notorious haunted spots. Reddick Mansion is one of Ottawa's greatest treasures. Built in 1858, this three story, 22-room Italianate mansion was possibly the most expensive private home in Illinois at that time.

Enjoy a day of fun with art, music, history, and good food on the grounds of the historic Ellwood Mansion at the Ellwood House Museum’s annual summer event, the Art Fair & Ice Cream Social. Thirty artists from the Midwest will exhibit and sell their work on the front lawn of the mansion in such media as paintings, prints, sculpture, ceramics, photography, jewelry, and fiber arts. Folk rock duo Patchouli will entertain during the first part of the day and at 2:30 P.M., the DeKalb Municipal Band will take over for its annual concert on the terrace. First-floor tours of the Ellwood Mansion and the Ellwood-Nehring House will be offered from 11:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M. The DeKalb Area Garden Club will present garden vignettes in the Visitor Center throughout the day.

Led by a host of mostly female scholars, new research has revealed that women were involved in the Civil War efforts of both the North and the South, in ways most people never expected. Speaker: Amanda Fesperman of the Illinois Valley Community College has been studying women in politics and history for the past 25 years and will lead an informative and fascinating discussion.

Please join Reddick Mansion Association for an afternoon of sweets, savories, and tea while experiencing life with your favorite Edwardian family and their servants. The Tea Ladies from Bloomington, IL, will present, "A Day at an Edwardian Manor." Reservations required.

This holiday event features decorated Christmas tree with homemade ornaments. Children will make holiday ornaments. Hot apple cider and homemade cookies will be served. Partners will be in 1830 period dress. Located in the Visitors Center, Sat Nov 14, 1:00pm - 3:00pm. Free admission.

Enjoy this special "Lincoln Tea" afternoon tea at Lock 16 Café on Tues., Oct. 6th from 2-4pm, which includes a full array of tea sandwiches, scones with Devonshire ceram and jam, a variety of sweets and, of course, tea from The Republic of Tea.

A River Through History is a living history reenactment of early American life at Columbia Woods Forest Preserve, as it was on the Illinois frontier prior to 1848, with emphasis on our local history from the fur trade era to the canal era. An exciting, entertaining and educational experience for all ages. We strive to create a better understanding and appreciation of our history by allowing the public and the reenactors to mingle, both as witnesses and participants, in our event. Finally, we seek to have the most authentic and highest quality reenactors and trade goods to represent our vision of the rendezvous to promote and enhance the historic, recreational and economic development of this new style National Park.

Freedom Train tells the thrilling story of Harriet Tubman in a series of highly theatrical scenes that use dance, dialogue and music of the period in a way the whole family is sure to enjoy. The show starts at 10 a.m.

See the fascinating stories of some of history's most famous diamonds and their equally famous owners. The exhibit blends the lapidary art of faceting with historic figural artistry to tell each diamond's story including The Hope, The Orlov, The Table Cut, and The Regent.

World War II Days includes elaborate and realistic battles complete with tanks, artillery, armored vehicles, and exciting pyrotechnic displays. Saturday the battle shows are featured at 1:3 pm and 3:30pm. Sunday the battle time is 2:30 pm. More than 1,200 re-enactors represent the soldiers of the United States, Great Britain, France, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Germany, Italy and Japan. In addition to the action on the battlefields, enjoy the skirmishes in the Village and Woods, demonstrations and displays in the buildings, woods encampments and the ambiance of the beautiful venue. Maps of the event site will be available when visitors arrive.

Dinner and a Little History: Gurdon Saltonstall Hubbard The Swiftwalker

Hubbard was 18 when he arrived in Chicago in October of 1818 as a clerk working in the fur trade. After the fur trade ended in Illinois, Hubbard built the first brick commercial building, opened the first meat packing plant in Chicago, helped create the Chicago Board of Trade and the Union Stockyards. He campaigned for and was later appointed as a commissioner responsible for building the I&M Canal. In his long and active life, Gurdon Hubbard saw Chicago grow from a town of four and a half houses, a fort and a Potawatomi town, to more than a half million people by the time of his death in 1886. Speaker: Gary Mechanic, veteran tour guide and storyteller for Friends of the Chicago Portage will bring his story to life. Reservations required. 5:30pm - 8:00pm, Canal Corridor Association. $24 for CCA members, $29 for non-members.

Join us for an intimate dinner theater experience in beautiful historic settings while experiencing Lincoln from a whole new perspective - event held on three dates: Aug 29, Sept 19, Oct 3. Savor a delicious period meal. Hear and watch the story of the 1847 Matson Slave Trial unfold. It is one of the top ten trials in Lincoln’s career and one of the top five in Coles County. It is an evening out of the ordinary!

The Farmstead will offer tours of the house and grounds, history of the Marbold family and light refreshments. The Stier Trolley will be available to take visitors through Greenview where a guide will provide details of the Marbold's influence and impact on the community.Exclusive for August: "One Grand Old Lady" Readers' Theatre.

French Connection Day celebrates Cantigny's French roots, which began when Col. Robert McCormick served with the Army's 1st Infantry Division during World War I at the Battle of Cantigny, near Paris. Great food and entertainment with a French flair are highlights of this free one-day festival.

Presented by Holly Hughes, master gardener and newspaper columnist, topics will include how to identify herbs, when and where to plant them, and the uses of herbs in cooking and baking. Holly will demonstrate harvesting and drying processes. After Q and A session, refreshments will be served. Please call the Reddick Mansion (815-433-6100) to register.

Celebrate the history, pride, and technology of Deere & Company during the QCA Heritage Tractor Parade and Show. This tractor parade and show features all brands/colors 1970 and older of John Deere Tractors. It will be held September 8 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at the John Deere Pavilion, 1400 River Drive in Moline, IL. Admission to the parade and show are free.

Pioneer artisan and craftsman demonstration, historic building tours, kids activities, craft vendors, with food and refreshments. Enjoy period music and audience participation entertainment throughout the weekend in an 1820's pioneer village.

Each Labor Day weekend, Black Hawk State Historic Site welcomes their annual Labor Day Weekend Pow Wow hosted by hosted by MAPA, the Citizens to Preserve Black Hawk Park Foundation, Black Hawk State Historic Site and IHPA. This pow wow celebrates the Native American culture and tradition of the Sauk and Meskwaki (Fox) tribes that once resided in the Quad Cities region. The celebration features Native American dancing, music, and crafts.

This event gives the public a chance to see the 70 foot Mill which was built in 1872 and view the unique construction inside on the first two floors. Participants will be demonstrating all old time crafts.

Governor Duncan Christmas Gala at Hamiltons’s. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. Gala features silent and live auctions. Tables of 8 are available for $320.00, single tickets are $40.00 each. Entertainment will be provided by Sherri Mitchell, vocalist, accompanying herself at the piano, a holiday sing-along and a special appearance by Dr. E.C. Bone.

Calling kids and comics fans of all ages! Elmhurst Historical Museum presents a summer of fun with the Peanuts gang through Pigskin Peanuts, a traveling exhibition from the Charles M. Schulz Museum and Research Center. View 50 of Schulz's popular football-themed Sunday and daily strips that depict the cartoonist's wry humor through the exploits of the beloved Peanuts characters. Visitors will enjoy viewing classic Peanuts objects and ephemera, dressing up in the team locker room, taking a photo-op on a football trading card, and trying their own hand at "pulling the football" from Charlie Brown.

Kennekuk County Park takes a trip back to the 1800's when the Civil War re-enactments take over the Park. Participants from around the country come to the Danville area for this one-of-a-kind weekend experience.

The First Division Museum is proud to offer "Five Years in the Jungle: Vietnam Experiences of the 1st Infantry Division 1965-1970." The exhibit coincides with the 50th anniversary of the Big Red One's deployment to Vietnam.

The Hegeler Carus Mansion is once again celebrating the sounds of summer in Starved Rock Country at their outdoor music venue. Offering great entertainment all summer, every Friday! The gardens open for picnics at 5:30 pm and music starts at 7 pm. See website for full music lineup.

The Prisoners have rioted, the guards have fled, a darkness has seized control of this Maximum Security Prison and our Warden has opened the gates for visitors. After the prisoners have processed "The Meat/Visitors," you will be forced to find your way through 23 maximum security cells and come eye to eye with over 100 criminals that were too evil to die. Statesville Haunted Prison®. No one escapes.

Join us for a traditional Thanksgiving meal with a little history as you meet Mr.Lincoln and discover his ties with DeWitt County. The Thanksgiving meal is catered and tickets are available from the Clinton Chamber & Tourism Office.

Learn about the unique traditions of Asia through traditional Asian music and dance, arts and athletic demonstrations, authentic cuisine, and the chance to explore the Arboretums China, Japan, and Korea tree collections.

Discover the winding roads, delightful parks, beautiful landscapes, varied architecture and much, much more! The North Tour covers the area north of the railroad tracks and features the Longcommon, an architecturally significant school, a place of worship designed by Jenney, and homes by Silsbee, Wright, Perkins, and Purcell & Elmslie. The South Tour includes Swan Pond Park, Scottswood Common, Wright's Country Estate & service buildings, architecture by Jenney, Drummond, Kenny & Vinci, Wittlesey, and a home designed by Olmsted's partner, Calvert Vaux. Dates: May 31 (North), June 28 (South), July 26 (North), August 30 (South), September 20 (North), October 25 (South).

The 14 room historic mansion is decorated for the Holidays, with many of the decorations for sale. Holiday luncheons can be scheduled with reservations. Luncheons include a served meal and a house tour. Regular tours are offered from 1 to 4pm daily.

The Neverly Brothers kick off the 2015 season! Join this popular event every other Thursday this summer for a concert on the Grundy County Courthouse Lawn. Every concert will feature a different performance from the area. Admission is free! Season runs from June 4 through August 13.

Step back in time in an authentically reconstructed fort from the early 1800's. Relive history as settlers, militia, traders and craftsmen gather at Fort LaMotte. Friday is set aside for school children. Saturday and Sunday are open to the public.

Celebrate the 168th anniversary of the Bishop Hill Colony and the 118th year of the Old Settler’s Association. Enjoy a traditional chicken dinner, the High Society Band Concert and program featuring Bishop Hill Colony descendants’ speakers. Sunday a reunion of students and teachers from the Bishop Hill Colony School takes place and memories are shared. Hours: 11:30 am to 3 pm.

It’s bluegrass time again at the Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, with both fans and performers gathering on Sunday from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Musicians from Illinois and Indiana will converge at the site for a day of jamming with informal groups playing along the creek throughout the day. The site’s volunteers will be serving hamburgers, hot dogs and more with proceeds benefit the historical and interpretive programs at the site. Anyone with a love of this unique style of music is welcome to join one of the many the groups playing in the park.

Step back in time at the Central States Thresherman’s Reunion, held annually over Labor Day weekend. Come see and experience traditional events including rock crushing, threshing, sheep shearing, tractor pulls, and a variety of country music shows. Daily attractions include the General Store, 1900 Country School House, Singer Saw Mill, 1910 Era Blacksmith Shop, 1920 Conoco Gas Station, Craft Show, and Flea Market.

Celebrate this holiday tradition at the historic 1857 Oscar Taylor home decorated in Christmas finery. Enjoy music and and homemade cookies with coffee, tea or punch as your tour the mansion. The Holiday Gift Shop will be open featuring a selection of historical books, toys and other unique gift items.

Sponsored by the City of Lockport, Lockport Township Park District, and Lockport Township Government, the Cruisin’ Into Lockport Classic Car Show will return for another great season on Central Square. Come see the finest classic cars of not only Lockport, but from a tri-county area. There will be a different featured car every week (although all makes and models are welcome). Every Monday night 6:30pm-8:30pm - come out for a car show and a different live band each week. Enjoy food vendors, face painting and lots for the kids to do. Free event!

The Barn Quilts of DeWitt County program will be holding their second Red, Wine & Blues Tour. Unlike our traditional tour, this event will showcase individual barns that are a part of our Barn Quilts of DeWitt County Trail with a night of good food, good music and good times. Contact the Chamber & Tourism Office for ticket and tour time information.

Garrison for the Massiac Marines on Saturday, from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM in the fort at Fort Massac State Park, Metropolis. The French and Indian War period living historians will present displays and interpretive programs on celebrating the harvest. At this time of plenty, you will learn about the foods of the period, recipes they used, spices, and how they cooked their food over the fire.

Static displays, parts vendors, flea market and, of course, the nearly 200 acres of cropland to be harvested and tilled during the Half Century of Progress make this a show that has to be seen! Nowhere else can you see vintage machines strut their stuff in real life field conditions as they were built to do, and not just for a few minutes at a time. From the earliest days of tractor power to the horsepower explosion of the 1970's, it will all be represented here and at work in the field, not just sitting and looking pretty.

Total Stearman! The 43rd consecutive National Stearman Fly-In will celebrate America’s iconic biplane, and you're invited to join the fun Sept. 1-6, 2014, at Galesburg, IL, Municipal Airport. The must-attend event of the year for Stearman enthusiasts will offer a generous mix of flying events, technical seminars, entertainment and food. Best of all, it’s an opportunity to fly and relax with friends.

One of America's finest and most popular outdoor pageants. Original music, professional quality actors and colorful costumes will provide an unforgettable 1800's experience. The Nauvoo Pageant is presented on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. This amazing performance will begin at 8:30p.m. Also enjoy free family pioneer games and concessions prior to the performance at 7:00p.m.

Don't miss experiencing 19th century life on the farm! Activities will take place at both the Lincoln and Sargent farms and will include children's games, craft and doll making, and hearth cooking. Visitors are encouraged to take part in period games and activities. Volunteers will demonstrate apple cider pressing, and food preservation. A number of artisans will be on site demonstrating their crafts including, woodcarving, flax processing, soap making, embroidery, pottery, basket weaving, blacksmithing, wheat weaving, and tatting. Gerry Barker will bring his oxen, the Unreconstructed Civil War Band will perform, and be sure to catch the puppet show. Don't miss the Frolic 5K! A 5k run and mile walk to kick off the festivities on Saturday.

Trail run consists of a 5k, 10k and 15k run on trails through Lincoln's New Salem. In addition to the terrain of the 5k course, the 10k and 15k courses will take you past an 1800's reproduction flatboat, grist mill, up and down more than 150 steps, past a pioneer cemetery and on to the Finish Line at the museum.

Arcola celebrates its heritage as the “Broom Corn Capital of the World” with this renowned festival held in downtown. Visitors can see broom activities, arts/crafts, great food, free entertainment, National Broom Sweeping Contest on Main Street and gigantic parade featuring the famous Lawn Rangers.

Come out for Lunch with Santa on the Train at the Wabash Depot in Monticello, Illinois, a holiday favorite for kids of all ages. Enjoy a train ride, individual visit with Santa, and kid friendly sack lunch. The ride is about 60 minutes per trip. Reservations required. Tickets go on sale online Saturday, June 6th.

We invite you to spend the day in an enchanting village. The park is the center of this small town and will be filled with story telling and music. Join us for the historical re-enactment, a family oriented event sharing true tales of what makes us uniquely American.

All aboard the antique steam train as a 36 ton, 1912 Heisler steam locomotive pulls three cabooses, and two passenger flatcars for a four mile ride through farmlands and across a bridge 30 feet above Yellow Creek. Purchase your ticket at the Silver Creek Depot, a turn-of-the-century replica filled with railroad artifacts. Browse for novelties in the Freight House and visit the Silvercreek Museum which offers 25 rooms of early Americana, a display of antique machinery, Henney Motor Company vehicles which were manufactured in Freeport, and the operating Cooper-Corliss engine, a giant 130 ton steam engine. The Silvercreek Museum will be serving sandwiches and deserts. Train: Adults: $7; Children under 12: $3; Cab Rides available inquire at the Depot Freight House. Museum: Adults: $4; Children under 12: Free.

Performers from all over the Midwest will entertain on such instruments as mountain and hammer dulcimers, concertinas, bones, autoharps, fiddles, banjos, and guitars. There will be a large clogging platform provided outside the village, which will be filled with cloggers starting at noon on Sunday.

The 26th Annual Southern Illinois Hunting and Fishing Days will be held at John A Logan College. It is the largest celebration of Hunting and Fishing Day in the country. This 200+ vendor show offers something for the whole family. Bass Fishing and Crappie seminars, catfish contest, Goose calling contests, Dock Dogs competitions, retriever demonstrations and a kids fishing hole are just a few of the activities throughout the weekend.

Celebrating Quincy's German heritage and history. Oktoberfest brings live music, food and specialty beers along with contests and home brewers samplings. All located in the German District between 9th -10th & York Streets. Hosted by the Quincy Rotary Club- held from 4-10pm on the 2nd Sat. in October.

Tour five of the many privately owned and beautifully furnished houses in Galena. The tour also includes admission to the Galena & U.S. Grant Museum, housed in the Daniel Barrows Mansion built in 1858, and free shuttle service.

The Shawnee Hills Art Council of Anna Arts Center and P.A.S.T. of Union County are co-sponsoring a Civil War Weekend in Anna, IL. A quick snapshot of the planned events include: Historical bus tour: “Lincoln’s Footsteps and Friends in Anna-Jonesboro”; exhibits which include guns and quilts; re-enactors and encampment; storytelling; and Civil War era food and music. So mark your calendars and plan on coming to Anna Arts Center for a journey back in time.

Feel the excitement, experience the history of two time periods in America, featuring Civil War Battle Reenactments and Pre 1840's Rendezvous. A traveling family circus, period food stands and crafts for sale, fishing contest for children, canoe races on the lake, night firing of cannons and a military ball. A great family outing!

The DeKalb County Barn Tour is a one-day driving tour of barn sites within DeKalb County hosted by the DeKalb Area Agricultural Heritage Association and the JF Glidden Homestead & Historical Center. Participants will receive a map Guide Book containing hand-drawn sketches of each barn and the barn’s history, style and use. Participants drive to each location in any order for a tour of the barn(s), including many interiors. Purchase your event ticket at any of the seven locations. Admission is $20 per vehicle (buses extra) (Museum members receive a 25% discount). Bus groups are welcome.

Come ride the vintage passenger and freight trains on the former Illinois Central and Illinois terminal trackage. Experience the rails just like the maintenance crew did on a motorcar. All-day-tickets! - As many rides as you want! Also, enjoy the food tent.

Head to the Depot District on Tuesday, August 6th for a combination of car show and nightlife. Evening begins at 6pm in the Depot District at Windsor & Grove Avenues steps away from the Berwyn Metra Station.

Come down to the Depot District and enjoy Cruise Nites with other families, residents and car enthusiasts. Learn more about Berwyn's proud classic car culture and historical automotive heritage. Cruise Nites are free! Just show up and have a great time!

National Rumely Oil Pull Expo in 2015! Visit the 50-acre showground and experience the fall harvest early 1900’s style. Event features the historical value of collection and exhibition of gasoline and steam tractors, power driven farm machinery and other equipment through field demonstrations, displays of gas engines, garden tractors, farm tractors and equipment. Tractor pulls, craft demonstrations, speakers, children activities and music are featured daily. Food is available and parking is free. .

Egyptian Theatre - DeKalb, IL. For over 18 years, the unforgettable trio (Frank, Sammy and Dean) excited audiences nightly at the Copa Room and the Sands Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. These wonderful performances have been recreated with remarkable accuracy. Critics all proclaim “One Swinging Night” as being as close as any person could come to experiencing the original Rat Pack. With so much talent on stage together, these wild wonderful performers would set the standard tone for all those who came to Vegas throughout the Swinging 60's. How could these performances be anything less than historical? The Chicago Rat Pack’s show, “One Swinging Night” is perhaps one of the few special productions that shall become as timeless as the actual counterparts (Sammy, Frank and Dean). This fantastic show transports its audiences to a time when life was a lot less complicated. “One Swinging Night” is a brilliant reenactment of the “Summit.” This was the period at which all three of the magnificent super-stars were at the prime of their wonderful careers. At times, these three actors seem to transcend reality by totally becoming the characters they portray. Along with this and the fact that each member of this cast is very talented in his own right makes “One Swinging Night” a show that must be seen!

For model railroad aficionados-and everyone else who ever enjoyed model trains-this is something to see. The Fever River Railroad is a 103 by 24 foot HO scale model of a hypothetical railroad. The railroad intersects with models of "real" railroads, each of which can be operated independently. Up to 20 trains can be operating at one time. Industries along the railroad right-of-way duplicate either actual facilities or are typically correct of the industries that would be found in the Upper Midwest. The scenery represents the geographical area as well. A collection of railroad memorabilia and pictures are on display.

Head to the Depot District for the 9th Annual Cruise Nites presented by Berwyn Kia, Paisans Pizzeria & Bar, Mike & Sons Auto Services, Cicero Auto Parts, Deece Automotive! Cruise Nites take place on Tuesdays from 6-9pm in the Depot District at Windsor & Grove Avenues steps away from the Berwyn Metra Station. Enjoy your summe evenings while taking a stroll through a combination of car show and nightlife.

Since 1968, the Apple N' Pork Festival with its delightful aroma of smoked ham and spicy apple butter, has ushered in autumn for Dewitt County. From its beginning as a modest event, centered around a kettle of soup and stack of sandwiches, the festival has grown to one of the state's favorite fall festivals. Wear comfortable shoes and stroll through booths offering foods, crafts, antiques, entertainment, and more! Be sure to tour the museum. Plan to spend the day! Tram and bus service to various locations available for a small fee. Located at C. H. Moore Homestead and throughout Clinton.

The Stephenson County Antique Engine Club proudly presents this annual event, "The Freeport Show". It offers over 300 antique steam and horse-powered engines, equipment, and gas engines. This year's feature is Allis-Chalmers. There will be a huge parade daily at 1 pm, a large flea market, a large display building offering home antiques, crafts, demonstrations, and farm miniatures, Gasoline Alley featuring The Rawleigh gas engines, sawmill, and blacksmith shop. There will be threshing demonstrations with both steam and gas tractors, and working demonstrations throughout the show grounds. Also, ride the Silver Creek and Stephenson Railroad antique steam train. Great food is offered. Don't miss the Farmer's Hitch Class, Horse Pull or the Midwest Championship Antique Tractor Pull.

All aboard as a 36-ton, 1912 Heisler steam locomotive pulls three cabooses for a four-mile ride through farmlands. Purchase your ticket at the Silver Creek Depot, a turn-of-the-century replica filled with railroad artifacts, and browse the Freight House Gift Shop and Silvercreek Museum. Weather permitting, there will be fall harvest demonstrations with horses and tractors. The museum will feature sauerkraut and brats. Train: Adults: $7; Children under 12: $3; Cab Rides: Inquire at the Depot; Museum: Adults: $4; Children under 12: Free.

One of the largest Cruise Nites in Illinois. This event brings in classic and antique autos for a full day and night of fun for the whole family. Attend the car show on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and cruise from that evening from 5-9 p.m.

A powerful look at Lincoln’s greatest words and how they helped end slavery in America. “Undying Words” explores the most important speeches of Lincoln’s career, showing how his views on slavery evolved as he sought to hold the country together. One hundred fifty years after the Civil War ended and Lincoln died, this exhibit shows what was at stake for the slaves, soldiers and families caught up in the crisis Lincoln devoted himself to ending.

Held at Monticello Railway Museum. Read along with the story as the train makes its round-trip journey to the North Pole. Meet Santa and enjoy caroling, hot chocolate, surprises and a treat. And, for those who believe, a special gift for each child. Children are encouraged to wear their pajamas! Nov 14, Nov 20-21, Nov 27-29 & Dec 4-5. Reservations required. Tickets go on sale June 6th.

Don't miss these two beautifully decorated Deere family mansions during the holiday season. The 19th Century Christmas features the interiors of the homes decorated for the holidays; along with living-history volunteers, Choir performances, Santa Claus, music, and make-and-take activities for the children. These homes once belonged to the John Deere family and are now operated by the William Butterworth Memorial Trust. Open noon to 5 p.m. Free admission.

Typical autumn life on the 1830s Illinois prairie will be demonstrated. Costumed interpreters will demonstrate daily tasks such as candle dipping, butter churning, soap making, basket making, spinning wool, gardening, natural dyeing, and fishing with nets. Demonstrations of meat smoking will take place in one of the log village's period smokehouses, and wild game cooking will be demonstrated in the log homes. Visitors can step down into the cellar at the tavern to see how fruits and vegetables were preserved during the winter.

Cave-In-Rock Frontier Festival is held on the banks of the beautiful Ohio River. The festival, which commemorates the extensive and colorful history connected to Cave-In-Rock and the surrounding community, is an entertaining and fun filled community event. First held in the 1960’s, the celebration includes a parade, carnival, various entertainment held in the Old Opry House, food and craft vendors. A Little Miss and Mister Frontier Days and Frontier Queen pageant is a highlight as well as various other activities. Come join the festivities for a weekend of fun and entertainment.

Take the plunge into the deep, dark, Savage Ancient Seas! It is the world of the late Cretaceous period-over 70 million years ago! Filled with huge carnivorous marine reptiles with double-hinged jaws and teeth in the middle of their palates, gigantic flesh-eating fish big enough to swallow an adult human being whole, flying reptiles with 3-foot skulls, and the biggest sea turtles to have ever lived! Exhibit opens to the public January 17, 2015, and is here until September 7, 2015.

The History of the Northern Illinois Steam Power Club invites you to their annual Sycamore Steam Show & Threshing Bee August 13th - 16th, 2015. This family friendly event is a great way to step back in time and see many antique machines at work. Threshing using steam engines and gas tractors. Also, a sawmill in operation sawing logs into lumber using Steam Power and Baling Straw using Club's 1900 Sandwich stationary wire-tie baler are just a few of the engaging machine exhibitions that will be presented at the Bee. There will also be Barrel Train rides, rope making, mule team wagon rides and much more to entertain everyone.

Corn Fest is one of the last, free, summer, music festivals among Illinois music and summer festivals in Illinois. Well over 100,000 people from around Illinois and the Midwest attend the music festival over a three day weekend. This festival features a carnival complete with rides and games, food booths, free live music, kiddie korner with large inflatables, family entertainment and much more. Friday night is carnival wristband nights for the kids with unlimited rides from 6-10pm. Festival areas feature food and business vendor booths, and a beer garden

This annual reenactment of late-1700s Illinois life on the frontier prairie features blanket traders, merchants, military units, fife and drum corps, and period-style food from more than 20 vendors. The encampment offers military drills, mock battles, along with story telling and children's activities.

Bring the family to experience New Salem village after dark. Interpreters in period clothing will welcome you into the reconstructed log homes of the historic village where Abraham Lincoln lived for six years.

Start off with a delicious hot lunch at Starved Rock Lodge. Next, board one of our trolleys for a ride through historic downtown Utica and stop at Cattails for shopping. Your trolley will also take you on a relaxing ride to LaSalle where you will board the canal boat. Step back into time with period dressed interpreters on this 1-hour boat ride. There is minimal walking involved in this tour and restrooms are available throughout. For more information or to reserve call 815-220-7386. $39.00 Adult $34.00 children 10 and under. 11:00a.m. every Friday May through October.

Learn about local, Underground Railroad sites on a shuttle tour with J.E. Robinson Tours and the Alton Regional CVB on the last Saturday of each month (10 a.m. to noon). The two-hour guided shuttle tours will stop at some of the sites that were part of the Underground Railroad system including the Old Rock House, Rocky Fork Church and more. Alton’s riverfront location along the Mighty Mississippi played a vital role in helping slaves make connections to the freedom of the northern states. Buried beneath the streets of Alton and Godfrey, remnants of this period in history still exist.